Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuernavaca and Montevideo

For one person, living is cheaper in Cuernavaca: $1,011 a month against $1,771 in Montevideo, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cuernavaca
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,011
/mo nomad
Montevideo
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cuernavaca and in Montevideo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cuernavaca and in Montevideo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Cuernavaca versus $1,771 in Montevideo.

  • Cuernavaca $1,011
  • Montevideo $1,771

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Cuernavaca versus $2,740 in Montevideo.

  • Cuernavaca $1,692
  • Montevideo $2,740

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,373 in Cuernavaca versus $3,708 in Montevideo.

  • Cuernavaca $2,373
  • Montevideo $3,708

Living in Cuernavaca costs roughly 43% less than in Montevideo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cuernavaca is 25% below, Montevideo is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.05 MX$149
$15.16 UYU 609
-46.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 MX$707
$69.2 UYU 2,776
-44.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.24 MX$134
$14.65 UYU 588
-50.58%
Cappuccino
$2.43 MX$44.98
$4.46 UYU 179
-45.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.43
$2.67 UYU 107
-52.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 MX$11.60
$2.00 UYU 80.4
-68.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 MX$46.29
$4.83 UYU 194
-48.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 MX$60.3
$3.80 UYU 152
-14.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.33
$1.36 UYU 54.8
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$2.87 UYU 115
-23.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.52
$1.75 UYU 70.2
-17.71%
Eggs
$1.92 MX$35.49
$4.68 UYU 188
-58.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.08 MX$149
$13.88 UYU 557
-41.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.89 MX$90.4
$11.98 UYU 481
-59.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.78 MX$255
$11.97 UYU 480
15.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 MX$41.24
$2.78 UYU 111
-19.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 MX$25.02
$2.74 UYU 110
-50.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 MX$40.07
$1.77 UYU 71.2
22.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 MX$30.92
$3.24 UYU 130
-48.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 MX$31.62
$1.97 UYU 79.2
-13.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.06
$2.07 UYU 83.1
-15.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 MX$28.25
$1.37 UYU 55.1
11.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$16.78
$1.88 UYU 75.3
-51.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MX$81.2
$5.59 UYU 224
-21.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 MX$151
$8.78 UYU 352
-7.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.55
$2.26 UYU 90.9
-46.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 MX$61.4
$2.75 UYU 110
20.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.51
$1.53 UYU 61.5
-62.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.69 MX$512
$74.3 UYU 2,980
-62.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 MX$35.20
$1.91 UYU 76.7
-0.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.63 MX$48.52
$0.40 UYU 16.18
557.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.93 MX$202
$10.33 UYU 415
5.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$26.26
$2.13 UYU 85.6
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$387.9K
$27.1K UYU 1.1M
-22.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K MX$444.6K
$36.3K UYU 1.5M
-33.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.3 MX$1,059
$188 UYU 7,557
-69.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.78 MX$347
$20.54 UYU 824
-8.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19 MX$465
$44.81 UYU 1,798
-43.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.75 MX$476
$54.0 UYU 2,166
-52.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.75 UYU 793
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.44 MX$100
$11.95 UYU 480
-54.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$217 MX$4,018
$634 UYU 25.5K
-65.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,075 MX$93.8K
$11.1K UYU 443.6K
-54.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.29 MX$763
$102 UYU 4,099
-59.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.18 MX$613
$57.5 UYU 2,309
-42.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 MX$1,719
$127 UYU 5,079
-26.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1 MX$1,832
$128 UYU 5,131
-22.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 MX$7,110
$719 UYU 28.8K
-46.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 MX$6,140
$568 UYU 22.8K
-41.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 MX$17.7K
$1,145 UYU 46.0K
-16.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 MX$14.9K
$1,023 UYU 41.1K
-21.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$870 MX$16.1K
$3,392 UYU 136.1K
-74.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$606 MX$11.2K
$1,949 UYU 78.2K
-68.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuernavaca
Montevideo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$649 MX$12.0K
$1,245 UYU 50.0K
-47.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.4
5.74
98.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cuernavaca: October 12, 2026

Last update for Montevideo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cuernavaca
$332
Montevideo
$568 70.9% $236
Groceries & Markets
Cuernavaca
$234
Montevideo
$332 42% $98
Eating Out
Cuernavaca
$142
Montevideo
$269 89.5% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Cuernavaca
$120
Montevideo
$186 55.3% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuernavaca
$101
Montevideo
$254 151% $152
Getting Around
Cuernavaca
$45
Montevideo
$84 87.4% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Cuernavaca
$37
Montevideo
$78 113% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $385 in Cuernavaca and $719 in Montevideo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montevideo pays 92% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cuernavaca vs $69.0 in Montevideo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $332 per month, with Cuernavaca cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Cuernavaca
🇺🇾 Montevideo
🕒 Local time
03:25 3:25 AM
06:25 6:25 AM
3 h ahead of Cuernavaca
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
341,029
1,319,108 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cuernavaca Montevideo 7,510 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cuernavaca
  • Montevideo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cuernavaca vs Montevideo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montevideo cheaper than Cuernavaca?
Cuernavaca is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cuernavaca or Montevideo?
On paper, salaries run 92% lower in Montevideo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cuernavaca and Montevideo?
Rent for a central apartment: $385 in Cuernavaca versus $719 in Montevideo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cuernavaca and in Montevideo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Montevideo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuernavaca or in Montevideo?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuernavaca – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $69.0 in Montevideo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cuernavaca or in Montevideo?
At $1,011 in Cuernavaca versus $1,771 in Montevideo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuernavaca but tight or insufficient in Montevideo. The gap between the two cities makes Cuernavaca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuernavaca or Montevideo more family-friendly?
For families, Cuernavaca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montevideo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuernavaca or Montevideo?
Safety-wise, Cuernavaca and Montevideo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuernavaca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Montevideo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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